[stokedmind]

> I can agree with the most of this, but the large families being pushed out of existence is plainly wrong. How much the school is costing you? Healthcare? How much do you save by being able to cycle with 4 kids to short distances, where most of your daily travel comprised of?

Oh I love cycling. I know it's hard to find even remotely comparable cycling-friendly locations in the States, even if growing up (also in a large family) we were fortunate enough to live walking distance to schools in a suburban area.

But for education and health, health care isn't "free" in the Netherlands. We pay hundreds per month for the whole family for health insurance on top of the high taxes that support the "system". Public education is also tax-supported in the USA for K-12, although indeed higher education is more expensive.

I'm more referencing policy that is intentionally "squeezing" everything to make it all smaller and more frugal in a way that makes a <5 family size far more practical. It is not the same in the States.

[bgnn]

Yeah I totally see that. What I struggle with with a single child is to be able to work full time for example. You are expected to work part time, but then how do you sustain your income, with multiple children. The problem will be bigger once they grow up though. It's really tough to find housing, to rent or to buy, for the youth. I'm working on getting a second house somewhere else so my child can use the house here when they grow up. Can't imagine the stress of raising 4 children.

[bombcar]

It’s certainly different in the US; 4 kids would likely unlock a large number of government assistance programs even if you’re relatively well compensated, and put you on state health insurance.

Incidental costs go up but not terribly so. And vehicles get cheaper per person the more people you have unlike many transit packages.